How do I become a disability service officer?
Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)
- There are no mandated entry requirements.
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability)
- There are no mandated entry requirements.
Certificate IV in Disability Support
- Completed Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) or equivalent qualifications OR
- Completion of CHC30408 Certificate III in Disability PLUS the CHCSS00125 Entry to Certificate IV in Disability Support Skill Set.
Certificate III in Auslan
- There are no mandated entry requirements.
Certificate IV in Auslan
- There are no mandated entry requirements.
Course in Introduction to the National Disability Insurance Scheme
- There are no mandated entry requirements.
Diploma of Leadership in Disability Services
- There are no mandated entry requirements.
Related occupations
Personal Carer
Personal Carers support elderly and vulnerable individuals with daily tasks, providing companionship and liaising with families and healthcare professionals.
Residential Care Worker
Residential Care Workers support children and adults in various facilities, providing personal services and maintaining close relationships with clients and their families.
Community Care Worker
Community Care Workers support children and adults in care facilities with personal services, building close relationships with clients and their families.
Home Care Assistance Worker
Home Care Assistance Workers provide personal care to elderly and vulnerable individuals in their homes, promoting independence and building strong client relationships.
Diversional Therapy Assistant
Diversional Therapy Assistants support leisure programs, enhancing the social and emotional wellbeing of isolated or vulnerable individuals.
Residential Care Officer
Residential Care Officers lead care teams in facilities, ensuring residents receive excellent personal care while managing staff and administrative tasks.
Aged Care Manager
Aged Care Managers oversee operations in care facilities, managing finances, compliance, and staff while ensuring quality service and safety standards.
Disability Support Worker
Disability Support Workers provide hands-on assistance to aged and disabled clients, helping with daily tasks, companionship, and community engagement.
Disability Team Leader
Disability Team Leaders manage support teams, ensuring effective care for clients by delegating tasks, monitoring assessments, and providing hands-on assistance.
Trainee Support Worker
A Trainee Support Worker assists clients with daily activities in aged care or disability services, offering practical and emotional support.
Lifestyle Coordinator
A Lifestyle Coordinator plans and organises activities and events for residents in care facilities, focusing on their physical, social, and emotional needs.
Aboriginal Disability Worker
An Aboriginal Disability Worker assists Indigenous individuals with disabilities in daily activities, fostering community engagement and support.
Diversional Therapist
A Diversional Therapist organises activities for individuals with specific needs, addressing social, physical, and emotional well-being while ensuring effective communication.
Home Carer
A Home Carer supports people with additional needs at home, assisting with daily tasks, personal care, and accompanying clients to appointments.
Care Coordinator
A Care Coordinator manages client care in aged or disability services, ensuring daily support, liaising with families, and organising specialist staff.
Mental Health Advocate
A Mental Health Advocate supports individuals by promoting their rights, accessing services, and navigating mental health systems with empathy and guidance.
Behaviour Therapist
Behaviour Therapists help people make positive behaviour changes using various therapies, like CBT and hypnotherapy, to treat diverse issues.
Disability Advocate
A Disability Advocate helps individuals with disabilities navigate systems, ensuring their rights and needs are met to enhance their quality of life.
Common questions
How much do Disability Service Officers earn?
In Australia, a full time disability service officer generally earns $1,600 per week ($83,200 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.
What are the job opportunities for Disability Service Officers?
There isn't clear data on disability service officer positions specifically. However, aged and disability support worker jobs as a whole have grown strongly in recent years. They are expected to continue to be a strong source of employment around the country. As of May 2019, there were approximately 177,000 aged and disabled carer jobs in Australia. That number could potentially rise to 222,000 in 2024. Some reports indicate the possibility of about 35,800 job openings per year over that span.
Source: The Labour Market Information Portal - 2019 Occupational Projections and Australian Government Job Outlook
How long does it take to become a Disability Service Officer?
Many disability service officer jobs require completion of more advanced qualifications and/or some experience in the support industry. One such qualification that could potentially prepare you for a disability service officer position is a Certificate IV in Disability. This can take around 12 months to complete depending on if you choose to study on campus, online or through blended study modes and whether you study full or part time. This qualification also has a work placement component. Individual Support or other support studies specialising in Aged and Disability Support can be helpful, though each position can have different requirements.